- Installation of Cross-Walks that Give Pedestrians the Right-of-Way at Each Intersection

- Long Term Vision: Ultimate Closure of the Waterside Lanes of Bayshore Blvd to Vehicular Traffic and Creation of a Pedestrian-Safe Public Park.

Bayshore Boulevard is highly touted as the "Crown Jewel" of Tampa Bay. It is promoted as the longest stretch of uninterrupted sidewalk in the Country. It was designed as a linear park and greenway trail; and it is where Tampa residents convene on a daily basis to walk, run, stroll, bike, exercise, and more. However, the road itself has turned into a very dangerous 4-lane highway with constant high-speed traffic. There are little to no safety measures in place that allow pedestrians safe access and use of the Bayshore. There are few barriers to speeding, minimal safe crossings, and a road culture that ignores the proximity and priority of pedestrians. As a result, there have been numerous near-fatal and fatal accidents, including most recently a Mother and her 2-year-old child who were struck and fatally killed by a speeding motorist. We are advocating for immediate safety improvements, including the following at a minimum:

- Lowering the Speed Limit from 35 MPH to 25 MPH for the entire length of the linear park

- Enforcement of the Speed Limit at all times via enhanced police presence and/or the use of speed cameras

- Expediting the already planned installation of Flashing Pedestrian Cross-Walks that give pedestrians the right-of-way and extension of similar Crosswalks South of Bay to Bay.

- We also advocate for the study and development of plans to close the waterside lanes of Bayshore Boulevard to vehicular traffic.

Despite speed limits and enforcement efforts, ultimately Bayshore is dangerous by design. Bayshore Boulevard must become a geography that is designed to be safe for drivers, transit vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities. The paradigm shift of Bayshore would ensure that Bayshore Boulevard is treated as the linear park it was intended to be and becomes safe by design rather than a 4-lane Divided Highway. Reducing Bayshore to 2 lanes of traffic offers tremendous recreation, environmental, and economic potential and allows for diversity of innovative transportation options as well as increased storm and flood water mitigation. Bayshore should be treated and respected as the park and greenspace it is, akin to the Highline in New York and other similar projects across the world.

You can do more than sign the petition! You can make your voice heard locally by emailing the bullet points above and your thoughts to: